In as little as a decade, AI could match and then surpass human intelligence. Corporations and government agencies are pouring billions into achieving AI’s Holy Grail—human-level intelligence. Once AI has attained it, scientists argue, it will have survival drives much like our own. We may be forced to compete with a rival more cunning, more powerful, and more alien than we can imagine.

Through profiles of tech visionaries, industry watchdogs, and groundbreaking AI systems, Our Final Invention explores the perils of the heedless pursuit of advanced AI. Until now, human intelligence has had no rival. Can we coexist with beings whose intelligence dwarfs our own? And will they allow us to?

Music Production NotesAll synth elements are from the Nord Lead 4 being both played live and sequenced live via Octatrack. I make heavy use of trig-level automation to manipulate parameters on the Nord Lead via MIDI CC messages. I also sequenced real-time automation plus manipulate the Nord on-the-fly.

The Octatrack also acted as a mixer allowing me to record audio down to a Zoom H2n digital recorder in real-time in one-pass with no edits. Drums are samples sequenced within Octatrack.

Video Production Notes I used a combination of practical projection with video feedback, real-time video effects via two webcams run through visual Software Resolume, and primary footage captured with a GoPro. I then composited all the shots in video editing software with only a teeny bit of post-production to create this dark – almost old-school analog video processing vibe.

The computers in the video are there to process and capture video from the two web cams - plus are part of the shot as a story element and for side-lighting. One is being used to project a camera in real-time over my right shoulder. This same camera is also seeing the projection which causes video feedback.

This rig is quite snappy, so all the latency between the different versions of my image are intentional introduced with the video editing software to create tension.

I’m very happy to announce my new album Fear Cannot Save Us is now available on Bandcamp. It will be available on other outlets soon, but bandcamp edition is the best value and also contains a 10 page digital booklet with liner notes and photos.

This is album #3 in a series of alien invasion concept albums containing original cinematic electronica, dark ambient, and experimental tracks. This third album, released in 2014, tells the story of the transformation of a human to an alien hybrid being. The album takes you through our hero’s journey as they rapidly coevolve and become self-aware and aware of their mission for revolution. Assuming evolution does not imply direction, could the change benefit mankind?

On another level this album is also allegorical. It’s about tolerance for people who seem different and strange to us. It’s also about people accepting change in themselves. On a third level, the album and the series are a nod to my love for classic Sci-fi films

The albums in this series are orchestrated with classic and contemporary synth sounds and loaded with sound design “ear candy” for synth and Sci-fi fans looking for a soundtrack experience for an epic movie yet to be filmed. If you listen to the tracks in album order, the story unfolds, and the titles of the songs give away the basic plot of each scene, but it’s left up to you - the listener - to fill in the story details. Each song was written to stand on its own as well. The dynamic arrangements and production will reward you for listening with high-quality headphones, stereo systems, or home theater systems.

Bringing this album to life is the culmination of over three years of work. This work included going deep and studying the sound design possibilities of a small number of monster digital synthesizers such as Absynth, Zebra, and ElectraX, as well as circuit-modelled analog synthesizers such as ACE and Saurus. To give the album an organic feel and sense of place, I manipulated my field recordings using Ableton Sampler. I also worked to find ways to “see through the eyes” of great guitarists, not to emulate guitar tone per se, but to instead apply concepts like non-linear distortion and wave shaping within feedback circuits to add more dynamics, emotion and expression to my sounds and performances. I hope you enjoy the sonic detail and emotion that will emerge and evolve with multiple listens.

Make sure you check out the other entries in the series here markmosher.bandcamp.com. Album #1 - “Reboot” tells the tale of the original alien invasion from the human point of view. Album #2 – “I Hear Your Signals” – tells the same story but from the alien point of view with inverted emotional curves. Thanks Many thanks to my wife and family, friends, fellow independent artists who have helped and inspired me (including the Electro-Music, Boulder Synthesizer Meetup, and Ableton User Group communities) , the software designers and instrument builders that make the tools I use every day, fellow bloggers and listeners who have supported my art throughout the years. Here’s to the next sonic journey and making the world a better place through art.